Let us consider some important points...

I. A REALIZED FACT:

The purpose for Christ�s substitutionary death was to satisfy the Father�s requirements. The Word of God teaches us that �the soul that sinneth shall surely die� and �the wages (rewards) of sin is death.� In order to satisfy God�s law, we would everyone have to die because of transgression. �But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.� Christ took our place of judgement when He died.
1. . WE WHO DIED... (verses 1-2)
   
   • ) We must, when we accept Jesus Christ and His completed work, accept the fact that in God�s eyes we died in Christ. At death the slate is wiped clean.
   • ) If we died, how then can we live as we have lived. That life is over. The confirmation of that death was signified in our baptism (vs.3-4a). A burial took place. That finalized our former existance.
   • ) Until we �reckon yourselves to be dead� we can never experience new life. If we have not fully accepted this precept of God, then we continually try to live naturally (self-life) and with it, all the encumbrances and thoughts of that life.

2. . UNITED TOGETHER...(verses 4b-5)
   
   United together with Christ was God�s initial intent after creation when He said, Gen. 2:24 �For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.� To become one was His purpose and thus we,through the cross become one with Christ. We become one...
   • ) in death - if, when He died, we died, then when He was buried we were buried together with Him. This has to be a realized fact to each one who has accepted Christ as his/her Saviour.
   • ) in life - if we were united with Him in death, then when He was resurrected from the dead we also were resurrected from our dead state. What state was that? In our sins and tresspasses!!! If we were in Christ in death, we are now in Christ in life.
   
   Since we were in slavery to sin and He purchased us at the cost of His blood, we are now His possession, His slaves. We are at His disposal to do what He demands. This must be a realized fact to each of us.

3. . WE SHALL ALSO LIVE...(verse 8a)
   The Apostle Paul said it best when he stated in Gal 2:20, �I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,...� We have new life, but that life is Christ�s life in us and the life God intended for His Son becomes the life that is lived in our body.
   Notice verse 10b, �The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.� Through Christ we are to be alive to God. This is to be a realized fact to each of us if we are to be victorious .

II. A RULING FORCE:

Not only must we realize certain facts, we must recognized ruling forces that desire control over us. Paul recognized these forces when he said, Rom 7:23 �but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.� As a new creation, we must recognize this battle for control and make a conscious choice who the ruler will be. If Christ is our Lord, we must ...

• ) not let sin reign - we are not to allow the enemy of our soul the rule, nor are we to obey his demands through our fleshly wants. Disobedience begins with a thought which is allowed to be carried out by our members.
• ) not present our members - Our members or faculties, mental, emotional and physical are likened to instruments manipulated by another. We are not to make them available for unrighteousness, �but present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.� Rom.12:1 Nkjv
1. . How does Sin (disobedience) Enslave?
   Rom.6:16 �Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?� The difference in the two rulers is one is for your benefit, the other for your destruction.
   The scriptures say, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:14 -15 . We find then that sin...
   
   • ) begins with a thought - for this reason the Word teaches us how and what to think.
   • ) thought turns to action - When we dwell on something long enough, we tend to act on it. The result is separation from God and His blessings.

2. . The Choice is Ours! (verse 16)
   The Romans struggled with sin, Paul struggled with sin, and we are no different. We struggle with sin. Satan does not let up and his primary goal is to tear down, defeat, and totally oppress God�s people. For that reason, Paul pleads with us, Rom 12:1 �I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.�

3. . A Victorious Slave (verse 19)
   One of the greatest motivating factors for man is his ever present quest for freedom. It is a never ending struggle. But scripture teaches that, ultimately, no one is totally �free.� In the end we either serve God or Satan. All of us are enslaved to sin from birth. Our only hope is Christ, who is able to free us from that bondage and enable us through the Holy Spirit to do what we could not do in and of our selves--live in obedience to God�s law.
   
   • ) If we understand that sin an enslaver and we have to make a conscious choice, how can a Christian experience the freedom? The answer is truly simple. We must make ourselves available to the Lord that He may lead and guide us with His Spirit. Rom 8:10-11 �But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.�
   • ) As Christians, we are Spiritual people (Rom 8:9 �You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.), living in a natural world and to often we tend to think and respond according to the tenets of the natural. For that reason many live defeated lives and struggle with their Christianity. Remember, �Natural-thinking man cannot receive or understand the things of the Spirit of God for they (Spiritual matters) are foolish to him and are spiritually understood.� 1 Cor.2:14

The choice is yours. God in Christ did all that needed to be done. What will you choose?